Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to erupt in the back of your mouth between the age of 17 and 25. Unfortunately, these molars have to squeeze through the tiny space available in your gum, which causes them to grow at the wrong angle or cannot emerge fully. This is what dentists refer to as impacted wisdom teeth.
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause many serious oral complications, including tooth decay, gum disease, and bacterial infection. To avoid these complications, dentists and other medical experts recommend the removal of wisdom teeth. But is wisdom tooth extraction really necessary? This is the question we want to address.
Why Is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Necessary?
If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain and discomfort, the only effective remedy is to have them removed immediately. But if they have erupted in a straight and upright position and are not causing you any trouble, you do not have to remove them.
However, sometimes wisdom teeth can develop problems later in life, even when they’ve erupted at the right angle. This is because they are located far back in the mouth, where it’s difficult to brush and floss them properly. That’s why you should get rid of them as soon as possible. There are many other reasons why your dentist may recommend a wisdom tooth extraction.
Avoid Impaction
When a wisdom tooth erupts, it leaves empty spaces in the gum where food particles get stuck. This encourages bacterial growth, causing severe infections, tooth decay, pain, inflammation, and gum ulceration. These problems can be avoided if you remove your wisdom teeth as early as possible.
Minimize the Risk of Cavity
Since wisdom teeth are hard to reach with a toothbrush, they are highly susceptible to cavities. It is also tough to treat cavities in that part of the mouth. If impacted wisdom teeth are not removed before long, they will affect the adjacent teeth. The inflammation of soft tissue and gum tissues can lead to cavities in the neighboring teeth. You can easily prevent these cavities by removing your wisdom teeth as soon as they erupt.
Prevent Overcrowding
One of the most common oral problems that result from waiting too long to extract wisdom teeth is overcrowding of straight teeth. This problem is very common in people who do not have a large arch to accommodate additional molars. With overcrowded teeth, the dynamics of your bite will change, causing recurring pain and headaches.
It is important to see a dentist when your wisdom teeth erupt so that they can examine you and recommend the best solution before it’s too late.
